A Message From Mars

[As you may know, I can talk to the planets. Mars wants me to give
you this message. - Michael]

Mars says:

I must win. Be it war, an argument, fixing a bicycle, a sexual conquest, selling (a thing or an idea)--it does not matter. I must emerge victorious. I am courage in Man. Manliness, the practical man (also ruled by Saturn), the protector--these are among the masks that I wear. I am the real "man's man." Look at your average pater familias before 1960 and, in most cases, you will find this type of man. He was the boss. He was the protector of the family, the provider, the ultimate authority. He went to war, he went to work, he cut the grass. He made things in his basement workshop. He had a lot of tools. He loved sports--playing them, watching them, getting his sons involved in them. He was practical, brave, and usually ready to lose his temper at the drop of a hat (a little pitta, perhaps?). He often fixed things around the house--the car, the washing machine, the radio perhaps. He cleaned out the gutters. He did not cook, except in front of a charcoal grill (very Martian). He did not engage in "girly" things like art, music or babysitting. He went to church but was seldom very religious. He loved hunting, fishing and firearms. He worked with his hands for at least part of his life. You get the picture. Most likely, either your father or your grandfather (or both) was (and maybe still is) that type of man.

On a deeper level, I am will power. I conquer. I am independent. Others are dependent on me; I am not dependent on them. Only in the last 30 or 40 years (at least in the United States) have I had much of anything to do with women. I am a meat eater. Meat and potatoes are my favorites. Salads (and vegetables and vegetarianism in general) is for wimps or women. I only listen and/or take orders from other "macho" men--preferably one who is more "macho," more Martian than I am.

I burn. I seethe. I control (but not in a very intellectual way-- intellectuals are pencil-necked geeks). I am the Patriarchy (contrary to popular belief--it is alive and well in much of the world). Father, Son and Holy Ghost--do you see any females there?

I glare, I fight, I draw the line in the sand and dare you to cross it. I accept any dare. I own things (renting is for wimps.) I do not back down from a challenge. I live according to principle if that principle reflects the innate values of the Patriarchy:

1. Men are stronger than women.
2. Women need to be protected by men.
3. The father is the king in his own house.
4. War is a good thing.
5. Sports, being the imitation of war, are good also.
6. I put my wife on a pedestal.
7. Intuition is for women.
8. God is male.
9. I own the people living in my house (at least, to some degree).
10. Enemies are to be crushed.
11. I accept all of the old knightly values.
12. I keep society and civilization going.
13. I defend the laws of society because they reflect the values of manliness and the Patriarchy.
14. I am my own boss.
15. Ultimately, I believe in a kind of dictatorship (dictators have manly values). Democracy is OK as long as it is men who decide things.
16. I do not accept backtalk from women, children or servants. I give the orders in my own little section of the Universe.
17. You may not "get in my face" but it is my right and duty to get in your face unless you are also a grownup "macho" man. In that case, may the best (either strongest, smartest or both) man win.

The following is from Michael Laughrin and not from Mars: The problem with your "macho" man is that he more or less perfectly reflects the qualities of Mars, but not many qualities of the other planets. This is what we call imbalance, neurosis. There are 9 planets and we need to reflect the qualities of all of them (in varying degrees).

(Back to Mars): I win. I conquer. I am the beginning, the victor, the real man.

Om shri mangalaya namaha.

(c) copyright 2005 Michael Laughrin.

From the April, 2005 issue of Michael Laughrin's North American
Jyotish Newsletter. Click to subscribe to this free Jyotish newsletter.